Half to albion hoeeall and nelson hoeeall



(No Model.)

W. A. HORRALL.

MAIL BAG.

No. 317,942. Patented May 12, 1885.

UNITED STATES 'PATENT FFICE.-

WILLIAM A. HORRALL, OF VASHINGTON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO ALBION HORRALL AND NELSON HORRALL, OF SAME PLACE.

MAIL-BAG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 317,942, dated May 12, 1885.

Application tiled January 3, 1885. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. HORRALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag Fasteners; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of this improvement is a secure V andreliable mail-bag fastening, having economically-constructed and conveniently-operated parts that are not liable to the injuries which frequently accrue from the emergencies pertaining to the use of, temporarily disable, and necessitate expensive repairs to, mail-bags.

These results are attained by the mechanism illustrated in the drawings herewith filed as part hereof, in which the same letters of reference denote the same parts in all the views. Figure l is a perspective view of a section of a mail-bag provided with a fastening embodying the features of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same as seen from the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top view, partly in section, showing the bag closed. Fig. 4t represents a section of one of the parts detached.

A is the body of the bag, having a vertical seam at the side, as shown, at a. Y 3 5 B b and B b are thin metal plates connected by means of laps b2 and links C C with intermediate hinge plates, C, and thus form hinges secured to each side of the bags mouth, on the inside thereof, by rivets d d d and rivets 4o g', which latter pass through and secure the positions of plates G G, correspondingly located on the outside of the bags mouth for a purpose hereinafter set forth.

Each of the intermediate hinge-plates C is provided with a slot, c, which correspond in position with slots g in the outer plates, G G.

The body of the bag between the slots in plates C C and G G is cut away, and an opening is thus made from one side of the bag to the ,5o other.

The plates b, forming the hinges with the plates B B, are made to lap over the outer ends of the latter, as shown at b2 b2, in order to make a smooth finish and prevent any unnecessary wear or cutting of the body ofthe 5 5` bag.

D D represent clasps having jaws d d2, and pivotally secured to the hinge-plates .B B on one side of the bags mouth between the said hinge-plates and the body of the bag.- These 6o clasps fit over the hinge-plates B B on both sides Vof the bags mouth, and securely close the latter when the clasps are adj usted in the positions indicated by their dotted profile lines in Fig. 2.

D2 is a lap or cover for the mouth of the I bag, stitched to the body thereof, as shown at da, Fig. 2.

E is a plate secured to the outside of the lap D2 by rivets f and provided with a loose link, 7o F, suitably secured thereto by means of perforations f.

K is an open plate riveted to the bag, as shown at k k, and so flanged as to form a recess, K', between it and the bag, which is open at the inner end for the insertion of a label to show the destination of the bag.

H is a plate hinged to the part K, as shown at 71., and provided with a slot, g2, correspond- .j ing with the slots in the plates C G G :and the 8o loose link F, secured to the plate E of the lap D2. H is a strap suitably secured to the bag, as shown, for the purpose of handling the same. The plates G G will protect the wear of the body of the bag.

When the bag is closed, the clasps D D are adjusted over the hinge-plates B B', as indicated by their dotted prole lines in Fig. 2, and the loose link F, attached to the plate E, is put through the slots in the plates. C G G 9c and the slotted hinge H, as shown in Fig. 3, when the usual lock is applied through the projecting end of link F.

By reason of the open end of the recess in the flanged plate K, different destination-la 95 bels may be conveniently removed or inserted, as occasion may require.

The loose connecting-link F dispenses with, but performs the same office of, the usual staple rigidly xed to one side of mail-bags for Ico locking the mouths of the same, and which, a

by reason of such rigid connection', arev liable to be, and frequently are, broken, in which oase-the bag is useless until provided with a new staple. It is obvious that the link F cannot be broken and the bag thus disabled by any of the causes that would have suh effeet on the staple.

Having explained the construction and operation of my improvement, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

The combination of hingeQplates B B,olasps l D D,l1ing@plates C,` links C', plates G G,

loose link F, label-oase provided Withslotted 1.5 hinge, and the mail-bag, substantially as specified, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof YI affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM A. HORRALL.'

Vitnesses:

J No. M. SWEENEY, SETE: H. FAIRCHILD. 

